Chennai Super Kings’ assistant bowling coach Sridharan Sriram credited Noor Ahmad’s sharp improvement to close guidance from MS Dhoni during a net session, where the youngster was pushed to fine-tune his leg-break. That work paid off in style as Noor produced a match-turning spell of 3/21 in four overs, helping CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2026 encounter on Tuesday.
Key takeaways
- Noor Ahmad’s figures of 3/21 came in a four-over spell that proved decisive for Chennai.
- Sridharan Sriram said Noor received specific coaching input from MS Dhoni about getting his leg-break to land properly.
- The wicket offered some movement through the air, including side spin and noticeable drop.
- Noor struck in the 11th over, removing Ajinkya Rahane and Cameron Green on successive deliveries and swinging momentum.
- Kolkata’s chase of 193 briefly steadied through Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 31 and Ramandeep Singh’s 35, but the asking rate kept rising.
Dhoni’s net-session message and Noor’s leg-break focus
After the match, Sriram explained that Noor’s success was not an overnight change, but the result of targeted adjustments made during practice. He noted that the wicket played a part on the day, with conditions that suited Noor’s style—there was some turn available, while other dismissals across the innings were easier on flatter surfaces.
“It was good. The wicket helped today. There was a little bit of turn for him. The other wickets are quite flat, but today it was a little slower through the air. There was more side spin on the ball and more drop,” Sriram said.
Sriram also highlighted the importance of Dhoni’s direct involvement in Noor’s preparation. He revealed that Dhoni held a lengthy discussion with the bowler in a practice session, particularly concentrating on getting the leg-break working as intended.
“That is something he has been working on. Even MS had a long chat with him in one of the practice sessions, especially about getting his leg-break going. I think it was very helpful today, and the results were there to see,” Sriram added.
Why deviation off the pitch matters
Sriram went on to stress that spinners thrive when they can create deviation from the surface. He suggested that even when pitches do not provide much assistance, the ability to keep a ball spinning with attacking intent can still force errors from batters.
“I think to be able to get some deviation off the surface is very important. I think that is what he’s been working on. Everybody accepts there are going to be days when the wickets are going to be very flat,” he said.
He further underlined that the key is to remain aggressive—using revs on the ball and finding ways to make it grip and turn—rather than pitching too defensively.
“But still looking to be aggressive, putting revs on the ball and getting the ball to spin will definitely help him a lot, and that’s where you can induce mistakes. Because once you start to get defensive, then the batters are going to get on top of you,” Sriram explained.
From limited returns to a three-wicket impact
Noor has taken four wickets in five matches this season, with three of them arriving in this one game. The coaching staff pointed out that earlier tournament pitches also influenced his returns, implying that conditions were not always as supportive for him as they were in this match.
In the chase, Kolkata set off with some resistance, reaching 79/3 by the 10th over. However, the momentum shifted in the 11th over when Noor struck twice in quick succession. He first dismissed Ajinkya Rahane, then removed Cameron Green on the next ball, bringing Kolkata down to 85/5.
Kolkata’s chase and the late fight
Despite the setback, Rovman Powell tried to keep the chase alive with an unbeaten 31, while Ramandeep Singh added 35 runs. Still, the pair could not maintain the required tempo as the asking rate climbed, and Chennai’s bowlers—anchored by Noor’s burst—kept Kolkata from completing the chase of 193.
